Air-to-Liquid Cooling Retrofit for a Shenzhen Listed Company's Data Center

This project involves retrofitting the existing 16 AI computing servers at a Shenzhen-based listed company's data center, upgrading them from traditional air cooling to a high-efficiency cold-plate liquid cooling system. Classified as a Tier 1 project with a delivery timeline of just 15 days, it aims to rapidly and reliably enhance computing density and energy efficiency to meet the demands of high-load AI workloads.

1. Project Challenges and Core Requirements Analysis
Based on the project background, this retrofit faces three core challenges:

High-Density Cooling Bottleneck: AI computing servers have high power consumption; traditional air cooling struggles to meet their escalating thermal management needs, creating a bottleneck that limits increases in computing power.

Pressure for Rapid Delivery: The 15-day project timeline necessitates a highly modular and standardized retrofit solution capable of rapid deployment, thereby minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

Adaptation to Existing Data Centers: The retrofit must be executed within the client's current air-cooled data center environment; the solution requires excellent compatibility and must enable the seamless coexistence and synergy of air-cooling and liquid-cooling systems.

2. Lianli Cold-Plate Liquid Cooling Retrofit Solution

Leveraging its mature, full-stack liquid cooling technology, Lianli Technology offers a one-stop, prefabricated, in-situ retrofit solution designed to precisely address the aforementioned challenges.

Core Retrofit Approach
Server-Side Retrofit: Utilizing Lianli Technology’s proprietary, customized cold-plate components, the solution performs an "in-situ retrofit" on existing air-cooled servers. Liquid cooling modules are installed on key heat-generating components—such as CPUs and GPUs—without replacing the server chassis itself. This method effectively lowers core server temperatures and reduces the server's own power consumption by approximately 20%.

Coolant Distribution and Control: Deployment of a rack-mounted Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU)—such as Lianli Technology’s 8kW rack-mounted air-liquid CDU. This unit drives coolant circulation between the server cold plates and the outdoor cooling source, enabling precise temperature control and flow distribution. It also supports a hybrid air-liquid mode, fully utilizing existing air-cooling infrastructure.

Outdoor Cooling Source and Piping Connections: The system connects to an outdoor dry cooler or an integrated cooling station, utilizing natural cooling sources or high-efficiency mechanical refrigeration to provide a continuous cooling supply to the entire liquid cooling system. All prefabricated piping employs high-standard welding and sealing processes to ensure long-term, stable system operation.

Core Solution Advantages：

3. Implementation Plan and Expected Benefits
Implementation Plan (15 Days)
Days 1–5 (Survey & Design): Conduct on-site surveys; finalize detailed piping designs; prepare for the production of core components such as CDUs and cold plates.
Days 6–10 (On-site Retrofitting): Install server cold plates; deploy CDUs and indoor piping; simultaneously position the outdoor cooling source.
Days 11–13 (Integrated Commissioning & Testing): Perform system fluid filling, air purging, and pressure testing; conduct full-system integrated commissioning and optimization.
Days 14–15 (Acceptance & Handover): Conduct performance acceptance to ensure key metrics—such as PUE and heat dissipation capacity—meet standards; complete project handover and O&M training.

Expected Benefits
Significant Energy Efficiency Improvement: Projected reduction of PUE from over 1.6 (pre-retrofit) to below 1.15, achieving substantial energy savings and emission reductions.
Increased Computing Density: Single racks can support higher-power IT equipment, providing headroom for future computing capacity expansion.
Reduced Operating Costs: Simultaneous reduction in server power consumption and cooling system energy usage; TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) advantages expected to become apparent within one year.
Improved Operating Environment: Effectively reduces server room noise; enhances equipment operational stability and lifespan.

Lianli has provided a mature, reliable, and highly efficient solution for this data center retrofit project—converting air cooling systems to liquid cooling. Leveraging a modular design, rapid delivery capabilities, exceptional energy efficiency, and extensive global deployment experience, the solution enables the safe and stable execution of critical data center upgrades within a very tight timeframe, delivering significant economic and environmental benefits to the client.

Please contact the Lianli liquid cooling technical team to obtain a detailed implementation plan tailored to your specific project.